The effect of post-ultraviolet light curing on the accuracy of direct-printed aligners: an in vitro study
Published Online: Apr 24, 2024
Page range: 85 - 94
Received: Nov 01, 2023
Accepted: Mar 01, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoj-2024-0008
© 2024 Anup Kanase et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Background/Objectives
Direct-printed aligners have proven to be more cost effective and accurate. However, the post-curing process might affect their dimensional accuracy, leading to unwanted tooth movement. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different post-curing durations on the location specific accuracy of direct-printed aligners.
Method
A stereolithography printer was used to produce 30 aligners using Dental LT V2 resin. The aligners were randomly assigned into 3 groups (
Results
Deviations were maximum in the ‘No cure’ group but were statistically insignificant (
Conclusion
Post-print ultraviolet light curing is a crucial step to ensure the rigidity of the direct-printed aligner. However, increasing the duration of light curing has little effect on aligner accuracy.